Third cocaine seizure brings French Polynesia haul to $2.4 billion

French Polynesia drug haul hits $2.4 billion in a month as third shipment interceptedBy Kyle Evans, Lucy Cooper and Finau FonuaPacific BeatTopic:Drug Offences4m ago4 minutes agoTue 17 Feb 2026 at 5:47amFrench authorities intercepted a suspicious vessel and found 2.4 tonnes of cocaine. (Supplied: Marine Nationale)In short: France has intercepted a third shipment of cocaine in a month near French Polynesia, bringing the total value of drugs it has seized to $2.4 billion in 2026. The drug haul follows the separate discovery of a suspected "narco sub" in Marshall Islands. Experts warn that Pacific Islands are increasingly becoming stopping points for drugs bound for Australia and New Zealand.abc.net.au/news/french-polynesia-third-drug-shipment-cocaine/106352864Link copiedShareShare articleFrench authorities have seized a third major cocaine shipment near French Polynesia, bringing the total amount intercepted since the beginning of the year to 11.5 tonnes.Authorities seized the 2.4-tonne drug shipment on Thursday from a vessel during a joint operation with the United States."The inspection carried out on board … led to the discovery of 100 bales of cocaine," the High Commission of French Polynesia said in a statement.France says it intercepted the vessel in international waters near French Polynesia. (Supplied: Marine Nationale)The seizure was the third of its kind in the past month, after French armed forces intercepted 4.24 tonnes of cocaine on February 2 and 4.87 tonnes of the drug from the Australia-bound vessel MV Raider on January 16.Combined, the drugs seized in the three operations have an estimated market value of about $2.4 billion.Separately, Fiji Police last month seized 2.64 tonnes of cocaine worth an estimated $780 million during an operation in the north-west of the country’s largest island Viti Levu. As with the first two seizures, French authorities destroyed the cargo intercepted last week at sea and allowed the vessel to continue to its destination.The drugs were discovered on board, but authorities have not revealed the vessel's name or flag state. (Supplied: Marine Nationale)Officials announcing the latest drug seizure did not specify the ship's name, destination, flag state, or point of origin.The ABC has contacted the High Commission of French Polynesia for clarification.The latest seizure follows the recent discovery of a suspected semi-submersible vessel carrying drugs — or "narco sub" — on a small atoll in Marshall Islands, 5,000 kilometres north-west of French Polynesia.The semi-submersible vessel was found at Arno Atoll in Marshall Islands. (Supplied: Arthmen Laukon)It was found at Arno Atoll by fisherman Watson Kilma, who was alerted by his neighbours.He said he claimed ownership of the vessel because it was on his property — which he described as common practice in Marshall Islands."Right now I have no plan for the boat, I'm just trying to figure out what to do given the huge outboard engines. I don't really know how to repair them and need to find someone to do it," he said.The discovery of three other "narco subs" in Solomon Islands in the past 12 months — and the multiple seizures in French Polynesia — have prompted warnings that international syndicates are increasingly using the Pacific as a route for drugs bound for Australia and New Zealand.France unable to detain crew, expert saysOfficials commenting on the cocaine seizure near French Polynesia said the vessel's flag state refused to relinquish jurisdiction to France.This meant French authorities had no power to detain the crew, maritime law expert and Australian National University professor Donald Rothwell said."You can only arrest vessels on the high seas if it's engaged in piracy or it's in breach of UN Security Council resolutions," he said."The fact that a vessel is found carrying drugs and is suspected of being part of transnational organised crime is not a basis to arrest and detain it."(ABC News: Jarrod Fankhauser)Professor Rothwell said under international maritime law only the flag state had jurisdiction to prosecute a vessel suspected of drug smuggling.However, it was unclear if any of the crew members would face charges."This might be part of a much larger investigation being carried out by the flag state, but it also might not be," Professor Rothwell said."Flag states come in all shapes and sizes, only some of which are responsible."Dumping drugs at sea 'could badly affect' marine lifeThe suspected drug-smuggling vessel MV Raider was caught and released under similar circumstances en route to Australia last month.The ship is just over 500 nautical miles off Australia's east coast destined for Sydney, according to ship-tracking website VesselFinder.French Polynesian President Moetai Brotherson told the ABC the 4.87 tonnes of cocaine it was carrying had been dumped into the sea.The Australian Federal Police has declined to say whether it is tracking the vessel. S